Car-identifying appliance



' June 10, 1930. 5, woo 1,762,677

CAR IDENTIFYING APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 27. 1928' 74 INVENTOR. flii'aad K Wood, i /3 a MIL.

Patented June 10, 1930 PATENT OFFICE STRAUD K. WOOD, OF HUTGHINSON, KANSAS CAR-IDENTIFYING APPLIANCE Application filed February 27, 1928. Serial No. 257,235.

This invention relates to motor car identifying appliances of that class utilizing a State license certificate as one of the elements and in which the mutilation of such certifi- "j cate shall be suificient to justify arrest and investigation as to the ownership of the car. In some States it is possible under the law for an owner of a car under proper license, upon the sale of such car, to give notice to the State authority and transfer such license to his new car. In other States this is not permissible, as the license originally issued for a particular car for a certain year must go with that car if the car is sold,

and the notice of such sale be filed to complete the transfer. Heretofore, it has been generally customary to apply car identifying appliances to the dash or some other part of the car itself. 7 This invention contemplates the application of the license certificate to the license tag supplied by the State or other proper authority, with the idea that a tag once issued shall be identified permanently with a particular person 2 or with a particular car, that is to say, a license tag bearing number 111-111, for eX- ample, may be used year after year by a par: ticular person or on a particular car provided the particular person obtains a new certificate each year and applies it to the tag in such a manner that the certificate cannot be removed without mutilation.

Accordingly the invention consists broadly in providing the tag itself with a certificate receptacle and a cover therefor which cannot be removed without mutilating the certificate, and more specifically the object is to provide a receptacle provided with means for holding a certificate flatly in the receptacle so as to be incapable of turning movement without mutilation, and a removable cover for the receptacle provided with a transparent window through which the certificate may be read, and with means which shall effect mutilation of the certificate if an attempt to remove the cover is made.

Another object is to provide a license tag with a permanent attachment in the form i. of a receptacle containing a certificate bearing the same license indicia as that on the tag, and a removable cover for the receptacle having a transparentwindow through which the certificate may be read, andmeans for sealing the cover on the receptacle so that the cover cannot be removed without breaking the seal.

With the objects mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a face View of a license tag or plate equipped with car-identifying appliances embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the plate to disclose more clearly the identifying appliances, with parts of the latter broken away to clearly illustrate parts otherwise hidden. I

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but with the cover and certificate omitted.

Figure 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane of the dotted line IVIV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section taken in the same plane, of a fragment of a cover or cap of modified construction.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a partof the cap or cover to disclose more clearly a minor feature of con-. struction. I

- Referring now to the drawing in detail, where like reference characters identify the same parts in all of the figures, 1 indicates a sheet metal license plate of conventional form and bearing in the customary or any preferred manner the number of the tag, which in this instance is shown as 111-111. The tag preferably centrally thereof, is equipped on its face with a receptacle preferably in the form of a screw cup consisting of a back or bottom 2 and a threaded wall or flange 3 the back or bottom preferably having an extension flange 4, and within the circle of the wall, being pressed outward so as to provide in conjunction with the wall 3, a circular grooveor recess 5, and the flange at is preferably spot-welded or otherwise permanently secured as at 6 to the tag 1. In

cured to the bottom 2, the prong or prongs being utilizedto impale a paper or equivalent certificate 9 to be fitted in the cup and flatly against the bottom thereof, the certificate conforming in contour to the receptacle orcup and of such proportion as to initially bridge the groove or channel 5. To prevent the certificate from working outward upon the prong or prongs, a split spring ring 10 is fitted in the groove or a channel so as to press the marginal portion of the certificate against the base of such groove or channel, it being obvious that the spring ring will be compressed for its ready insertion, until it is almost or about in contact with the certificate, and then released to permit it to expand against the marginal portion of the certificate. The ring is pressed back into thegroove so that it will have no tendency to work forward and relieve the certificate of pressure against the bottom and wall of the cup. The spring not only tends to hold the certificate in place but of course will cooperate with the prong or prongs in resisting rotation or turning movement of the certificate, which rotation 01 viously will result in the certificate being torn or mutilated.

The cover or cap, if the wall of the receptacle is threaded as shown, will be likewise threaded so as to screw upon the threaded Wall of the cup, and its body comprises an outer circular metal portion 11 and a trans.- parent central portion, which latter may be of glass as at 12 (Figure a). or isinglass as at 13 (Figureo). In both constructions the transparent window is preferably so secured as to be impossible of removal without mutilation unless the cover or cap is first removed from the cup.

The opening formed by the outer circular portion of the cap or cover for the reception of the transparent window plate, is .in-

dicated at 14. In the preferred construetion, as shown most clearly by'Figure 4, the inner marginal portion of the face of the cap is bent inwardly and rebent outwardly for stifleningj and strengthening purposes as shown, and at a pluralityof points the re bent or outwardly-projecting marginal portion is cut in parallel lines and theportions between the lines are bent to converge outwardly and constitute spring tongues 15. The window plate 12 is of generally outwardly tapering form, the outward portion being capable of passing through the opening 14- and'the inner portion incapable of such passage, and in the periphery of the tapering edge a circular groove 16 is pro-- vided, the parts being so proportioned that when the cap is removed, the glass plate can be fitted at the rear or inner side of the cap and then pressed forward into the opening. In such movement the front portion of the beveled edgerepresses or pushes the tongues outward until they are in register with or opposite the peripheral groove when they snapinwardly into said groove and engage the base thereof and thus prevent the cap from being pressed backout of the openin and in order that the window plate may retain its position without any objectionable vibration and incidental noise and also to prevent water entering the receptacle through the window opening, a rubber} ring or gasket 17 is interposed between the rear or inner portion of the window glass and the face portion of the cover or cap, said face portion between the gasket and the wall of the cap, being preferably formed with an inwardly-projecting rib 18, which provides one side of channel 19 for the reception of said gasket and the inner side of a sur rounding channel 20 containing a second gasket 21 for engaging the outer edge of the wall of the cup 3 to prevent water entering the receptacle between the wall thereof and the wall of the cap.

The rib 18 forms a convenient point of attachment for one or more certificate teai2 ing arms 22, the same being spot-wel-dedor otherwise secured to the cap and extending diagonally inward therefrom and terminat-, ing in a point or points 23 in engagement with the certificate. The armor arms 22 are of spring metal and slope or trail rearwardly with respect to the direction in which the cap is rotated when moved into engagement with the cup and hence tend to apply endwise and impaling pressure on the certificate should the cap be turnediin the opposite direction to effect the opening The tend or uncovering of the receptacle. ency of the impaling arms 22 in the lastnamed movement, to turn or rotate thecertificate, will of course be resisted by the means for holding the latter against rotation and hence the certificate will be torn or mutilated shouldan attempt be made to remove the cap. I

InFigure 5, whichshows a window plate in the form of isinglass orthe like and hence of but little thickness, it is preferable to double crimp the inner edge or marginal portion of the face of. the cap'so as to provide a groove. 24, the inner wall of the crimped portion projecting inwardly beyond the circle of the outer portion. The isinglass or other resilient transparent window plate can be bowed or buckled enough to permit it to be slipped into the crimped portion between the narrow and wider wall portions thereof, and after it is thus secured in place, it will be impracticable to remove it without injury except by applying pressure to its inner side, and this can only be accomplished after the cap is removed, at which time there would be no occasion to remove it because the mutilation of the certificate would have already occurred.

In the event a heavy glass window plate is employed, it would be desirable that said plate bear a number corresponding to the number on the tag, which number could be molded or etched by sand-blasting or otherwise into the plate. If desireu the number could be provided on the cap itself in the formation thereof so that the number would be permanent and thus make it practically impossible for one to either replace the cap or plate without going to an expense which would not be ustified by the theft of a single car.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced car-identifying appliances which for practical purposes 1ndissolubly associate a particular tag w th a particular ownership, and which establishes a similar relationship between a tag and a certificate until the proper time arrives for the replacement of such certificate with another of corresponding number. It will of course be understood that the certificate may bear any suitable indicia, such as the signature of the owner, the year, and the character or type of the car, in addition to the numher on the tag, and that if a certificate is replaced by one of a different year by a. person continuing to use the same number, the

new certificate will correspond with the old except as to the date and perhaps as to the matter indicative of the type of the car. In those States of course where the tag must be permanently associated with the car for a particular period, a new certificate to replace the old one, should have the signature of the new owner, otherwise the certificate would be identical with the original certificate.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced car-identifying appliances embodying the features of advantage set forth as desirable in the statement of the objects of the invention, and which is susceptible of modification in minor particulars without departing from the principle of construction and mode of operation involved, or from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a cup member, a remov able cap on the cup member, provided with a transparent window, means within the cup member for securing a license certificate of relatively soft material within and against the bottom of the cup member, and means projecting angularly from the cap for pressing the certificate against the bottom of the cup member and adapted to move with the cap as the latter is applied to the cup member and ride harmlessly over the certificate, and mutilate the latter as the cap is removed.

2. T he combination of a cup member for containing a license certificate of relatively soft material, means projecting from the bottom of the cup for impaling such certificate, a removable cap on the cup, provided with a transparent window through which the certificate may be inspected, and means projecting from the cap for engaging the certificate to ride harmlessly thereon in the application of the cap to the cup but adapted to effect mutilation of the certificate as the cap is removed.

3. The combination of a cylindrical cup member provided with a threaded wall, means for securing a certificate of relatively soft material within and against the bottom of the cup member, a screw cap for engaging the threaded wall of and closing thecup, and means projecting from the cap for engaging the certificate and tending to turn the same and therefore mutilate it as unscrewing movement of the cap occurs.

4. A receptacle con'lprising a cup member and a removable cap therefor having a transparent window, means within the receptacle for securing a license certificate of relatively soft material within the receptacle back of the transparent plate, and one or more prongs projecting angularly from the cap and adapted to apply pressure on such certificate tending to turn or twist and tear or mutilate it if withdrawal movement 'of the cap from the cup member is attempted.

5. A receptacle comprising a cylindrical cup having a threaded wall and a screw cap for engaging said wall and closing the receptacle; a transparent window in the cap, means within the receptacle for holding a certificate on the bottom of the cup and against rotation, and one or more spring prongs projecting angular-1y from the cap for engaging the certificate and adapted to yield and apply lateral pressure on the certificate when the cap is screwed onto the receptacle and to apply endwise pressure on the certificate when unscrewing movement of the cap occurs.

6. A receptacle comprising a cup member, a removable cap on the cup, having a trans parent window, means within and. attached to the cup member for impaling a certificate of relatively soft material fitting against the bottom of the cup, and spring arms projecting angularly from the cap for engaging the said certificate to ride harmlessly thereon in the closing movement of the cap and to mutilate the certificate upon Withdrawal movement of the cap.

7 A receptacle comprising a cup member and a removable cap having a transparent Window, means for clamping a certificate of relatively soft material Within and upon the bottom of the cup, and means projecting angularly from the cap for engaging the said certificate to ride harmlessly thereon in the closing movement of the cap and to mutilate said certificate upon Withdrawal movement of the cap.

-8. A receptacle comprising a cup member and a removable cap therefor having a transparent Window, a slit spring ring Within the cup for clamping the marginal portion of a relatively soft material certificate against the bottom of the cup member, and yielding means projecting angularly from the cap for engaging the Certificate to ride harmlessly thereon in the closing movement of the cap and to mutilate the certificate upon Withdrawal movement of the cap.

9. A receptacle comprising a cup member and a removable cap therefor having a transparent Window, means Within the cup member for impaling a certificate fitting therein and against the bottom of the cup member, spring means clamping the certificate againts the bottom of the cup member adjacent the wall thereof, and means projecting angularly from the cap for engaging the said certificate to rideharmlessly thereon in the closing movement of the cap and to mutilate said certificate upon Withdrawal movement of the cap.

1O.v A receptacle comprising a cup member provided with an internal groove at the junction of the bottom and Wall of the member, a split spring ring fitting in said groove for clamping the marginal portion of a relatively soft material certificate Within said groove, a removable cap adapted for rotary movement in application to or removal from the said member, and means projecting angularly from the cap for engaging the said, certificate Without mutilation thereof in the closing movement of the cap and for mutilation of said certificate attendant upon Withdrawal movement of the cap.

11. In a car-identifying appliance, a re ceptacle for a license certificate, a rotatable cap for the receptacle having a transparent portion through which the certificate is visible, and means secured to and Within-the cap and actuated by the latter when turned for removal, to tear or mutilate the certificate.

Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature.

STRAUD K. WOOD. 

